Oregon shopping, no matter where you are in the state, is tax free.  Since there is no sales tax in Oregon, many residents from across the water in Washington or other nearby areas make trips down to Portland or other cities for tax-free shopping in Oregon.  Bend Oregon shopping revolves mainly around outlet malls and a number of other Oregon city shopping centers geared toward the tourist traffic experienced in Bend throughout the year.

The outlet Bend Oregon shopping has grown up from the demand of tourists.  Bend and Sunriver have become one of Oregon's best places to go for an upscale vacation, with multiple golf courses, wooded trails and other outdoor activities to pursue.  With so many out of town guests buying condos and renting vacation homes here, Bend Oregon shopping is an obvious result.  The fact that Oregon does not impose sales tax on its residents means that shoppers can save a decent amount of money when purchasing high-priced items like furniture and electronics, as well as smaller items. 

Although Bend may be the outlet capital of Oregon, Portland has plenty of its own unique Oregon shopping to offer visitors.  For starters, the Portland Saturday Market lives on as the oldest and largest continuous outdoor market in the United States.  Shopping in Oregon at the Saturday Market, which is actually open on both Saturday and Sunday, is a great way to experience the city and get some unique gifts at the same time. 

Oregon Map

Other Oregon city shopping centers in Portland include Pioneer Courthouse Square.  This is an indoor shopping center and is widely considered to be Portland's premier shopping center for upscale stores.  The Pearl District is the other place to go for hip shopping in Oregon.  Though things in the Pearl District are also not cheap, this is where you'll find a mix of boutiques and brand name shops; more than enough to fill an entire afternoon of shopping.

Portland is also well known for the enormous Powell's City of Books that takes up three full blocks in the city.  Oregon city shopping centers have nothing on Powell's where books are concerned.  Not only does Powell's feature every kind of book you could ever hope to find, but it also shelves the used copies right next to the new copy, so you'll always know whether they have a used copy, and you'll have a choice where available.  The bookstore also has its own café serving light snacks and of course coffee. 

Along the coast, shopping in Oregon is a delightful mix of privately owned businesses selling handmade cards, home crafted goods and of course tourist trinkets.  The Oregon coast is also well known for the multitude of art galleries found all along the beach, most of which maintain a local focus, with a reoccurring theme of blown glass.